Optimization of supercritical CO2 extraction of astaxanthin from pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) using response surface methodology

In order to improve the extraction yield and content of astaxanthin, supercritical CO2 fluid extraction was used to extract astaxanthin from the head of Pacific White Shrimp, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was adopted to determine the content of astaxanthin after saponification, the influence of extraction parameters on the extraction yield and astaxanthin content was determined by single factor test, then response surface method was employed to optimize technical parameters. The results showed that the influence of extraction parameters on the extraction yield of astaxanthin was not significant(p>0.05),but significant on the astaxanthin content (p<0.05). When the particle size of material was 40 mesh, moisture content was 9%, the theory optimum conditions for extraction astaxanthin with supercritical CO2 extraction were confirmed as follow: pressure 403.95 Pa, extraction temperature 39.95℃, CO2 flow rate 1.16 L/min, under the conditions, the astaxanthin content was 796.3 mg/g. In application, the astaxanthin content in validation test was 789.61 mg/g when the extraction pressure was 400 Pa, the extraction temperature was 40℃ and the CO2 flow rate was 1.2 L/min. The results can provide a reference for extraction and purification of astaxanthin.